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Bear...average size in New Mexico?

Good day.

My hunting partner and I were fortunate to draw 2nd season archery elk tags in Unit 34 (bear unit 12). First hunting trip for either of us in New Mexico. According to the regs, if we want to purchase OTC bear tags, the bear tag must be purchased a minimum of two days prior to our hunt dates.

Hunting partner loves bear hunting and has been successful in multiple states and Canada...all spot and stalk. Pretty much expect him to buy a bear tag for this hunt. I've arrowed one bear in my life...on a salmon stream in Alaska. Got lucky and shot a good bear late on that trip (roughly 300lbs), but most of the bear I saw were half that size. Had zero intentions of shooting those bear. Really on the fence about the bear tag myself. Having never hunted NM, absolutely no idea what to expect? Thoughts?

I’ve hunted elk in unit 36 last two years. Saw some bear scat and tracks, but no bear. My impression is that the population density is pretty low and odds of a bow shot with out baiting (not legal) is quite low. Interested to hear others thoughts.

There is certainly opportunity in Unit 34. I'm a resident, so my license costs are a lot lower, but I would have the extra tag in my pocket. That said, dealing with a bear will eat into your elk hunt. Just something to consider. In general, I think the bears in New Mexico are going to be smaller than what you would find further north. Bergmann's Rule, etc. New Mexico does have a high proportion of color phase bears if that interests you. I saw one sow in unit 34 with 3 different colored cubs ranging from blonde to brown.

I’d skip the idea, unless you both tag out early. I’ve hiked 34 a bunch and never laid eyes on a bear. Enjoy the great tag!! Based on odds I’d treat the hunt like a once in a lifetime, good chance you won’t have this hunt for at least another decade+.

Appreciate the feedback! To be clear, if I buy the bear tag...it will be an "opportunity" tag as long as I'm still elk hunting. Do the same thing often with mule deer tags while elk hunting. Took 15 years of NM applications to land the elk tag...and at my age, yes, most likely a once in a lifetime tag. Bull elk are absolutely the focus.

Planning to arrive a few days prior to the opener with no intentions of coming home early should we get fortunate and tag out. An extra tag is just insurance to keep us hunting. I'm not yet sold on the idea of a bear tag...although the color phase opportunity is something I had not considered. Looks like a OTC archery javelina tag is also available for the same timeframe (only because of the archery elk tag)...and I've never hunted javelina. Barbary sheep (west side of 34 only) and turkey tags are also available.

If I'm reading the regs correctly, only the bear tag must be purchased prior to the hunt (two days prior minimum). Pretty confident my hunting partner will go that route...while I remain squarely on the fence! Decisions....decisions...

I don't think you'll see javelina, possibly wild pigs. The bear tag just needs to be purchased two days prior to hunting. If you tag early you could go buy a tag and hunt two days later. As far as OTC opportunity, you could also pick up a cougar license.

You will see about 10 small bears to every shooter that you find. I hunt bears almost every year in NM, CO or AZ. I specifically target large bears and many years go without.

I've had bears come into water while I was waiting for elk but never a shooter.

From what you've said, I probably wouldn't spend the money. It's highly unlikely that you will just run into a big bear and get a shot. If you find a big one, he probably has a food source that he's tied to and you could get a tag, wait 2 days and give it a try.

That sounds like a plan. To be honest, I misunderstood the two day rule. I thought the tag had to be purchased two days prior to the elk season opener. Thank you both for the clarification!

Bummer about the javelina. Didn't expect to see javelina while elk hunting, but assumed there might be a huntable population at the lower elevations near the Air Force base.

Congratulations on the second season unit 34 elk tag you luck dog. That is a really good tag. Plan on hunting the entire 10 days, you will likely not draw it again and there are some great elk in that unit.

You might be onto something. I wasnt thinking about the lower elevations of the unit. I've seen javelina while elk hunting on the other side of the state, but not in that unit. Odds of seeing one will definitely go up if you're hunting down low. I know WSMR has javelina, but In my experience it isn't great numbers.

IMO I wouldn't spend any time pursuing anything but elk. The tag is tough to draw and even burning half a day butchering an packing out a bear eats into your elk hunt. Then what happens if you hit a bear poorly, spend half a day blood trailing, let it sit overnight, spend the next morning blood trailing, find it, spend the rest of the day butchering... You could easily burn 2 days goofing around with a bear.

As stated, you only need to purchase a bear tag 2 days before you hunt bears. So hunt elk, if you kill early, then buy a bear tag. The other "problem" with NM is our bears typically don't have very good hides/hair - it's HOT here! So trophy-quality pelts are uncommon, in addition to few large bears compared to other states.

Average bear size is the size of a big chocolate lab.

Smarba makes the best points.

a 1 day to 2 day old elk gut pile/carcass will most likely equal a shot opportunity at a bear if you have the wind right.

I live near unit 34 and frequent the national forest. Out of perhaps 20 bears seen over 15 years, only one was "big", perhaps 300 pounds. Most of the rest would not go 100 pounds. You have a good tag and should have a fun hunt.

Appreciate all the responses! Based on feedback and clarification on the two day rule, I'll be 100% elk hunting. If fortunate to notch my elk tag with time remaining, will then make a decision how to spend the remainder of the trip. Thanks again!

New Mexico 34 2nd season archery update: Turned out the idea of purchasing extra tags was a moot point. Both of us wound up eating our elk tags. Exciting hunt that we would both definitely do again!

Second most elk I've ever seen on a hunt (Book Cliffs, UT in 2010 was #1).

Highest bull to cow ratio ever experienced. Bugling bulls everywhere. Bulls would bugle back...but had no interest in closing the distance.

Stalked three bulls definitely bigger than my personal best (330"). Got within 80 yards each time, but cows always got in the way.

Passed six bulls under 25 yards. Best being a young 6X5 at 15 yards. Had a 300"ish bull in range on day four, but another hunter spooked him before I could get the shot. What sucked is the other hunter knew I was there...but that's public land hunting.

Elk bedded early and got up late. We had maybe 2-3 hours in the AM and 2 hours PM. Did stalk some bedded bulls and got into range a couple times, but no shots.

Lots of rain during this hunt. I don't really like sitting water for elk anyway, but all the rain made that a moot point. I did sit an active wallow one evening...zero elk seen.

On day eight, I shot a decent 6X6 (estimated between 260"-280"). The shot was 35 yards downhill and quartering to. Had him broadside, but he saw me draw. Arrow entered the rib cage and exited in front of the opposite hind leg. Waited two hours before looking for blood at the last spot seen. Saw elk hide less than 100 yards into the timber. Could not tell if alive or dead. Closed the gap to roughly 60 yards and the bull got up. He walked off slowly, attempted to climb, but side hilled out of sight instead. Found the arrow in the bed and backed out for four more hours. Fully expected to find him dead in his next bed, but never found that bed. Spent two days grid searching to no avail. Not a good way to end an elk hunt...but it happened. Only the second bull I've ever shot that I didn't watch fall. If I had it to do over again, I would have backed out once I saw the elk hide. Based on his limited movements, figure he would have died in that bed had I not got him up.

My hunting partner was using a longbow. He had one shot opportunity at a good bull on day two. Extreme uphill angle and the arrow sailed high. Had other elk within range throughout the hunt, but always something in the way of a shot opportunity.

Sorry you didn't get your bull. As I was reading your story and description of the shot placement and angle, as soon as I read that you waited 2 hours, I knew what was going to happen before I read any further. This isn't going to end well.

I know it is extremely difficult but any time you have an animal hit in the guts, even thow you might have gotten one lung due to the angle, you have to wait longer. If you bump them once, you almost never see them again. Let your heartbreak be a lesson to all the rest of us.

It sounds like it was a great time, aside from the ending. Good luck on the next hunt.

Dang it, sorry to hear. Thx for providing a final update for us.

I agree 100% Jim. Walked downhill to the last spot seen hoping to find blood and/or my arrow to get a direction. Had no intentions of tracking at that point. Just happened to see the elk hide in the timber from that spot. He had not gone far and bedded. I was trying to get a look at the head with binoculars to determine alive or dead when he got up. I never entered the timber until after he was gone. Found my arrow in the bed. Definitely had a bad feeling when he got up...but the manner in which he left gave me confidence he would not go far. Wrong!

There are some big bears in NM. Click the link to for my long-winded story, hopefully you enjoy following along.

Congrats Smarba and Brian! Very nice hunt recap...and what a great bear!

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